Cantwell up, Congress down in new survey

In seeking to build interest in a 2012 challenge to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Republicans are not likely to be shopping around findings released Monday from the latest Washington Poll.

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The poll found that 53 percent of those surveyed have a “favorable” view of Cantwell, compared to 34 percent who view her unfavorably and 14 percent with no opinion.

The thumbs-up to Cantwell contrasts sharply with the public’s dim view of Congress as a whole. Just 14 percent approved of the job being done by Capitol Hill lawmakers, 76 percent disapproved, with 10 percent undecided or having no opinion.

Cantwell gets higher a higher favorable rating than President Obama, who is at 52-43-5 in the poll.

Gov. Christine Gregoire, by contrast, is viewed favorably by 44 percent of those surveyed, with 50 percent voicing an unfavorable view of the two-term Democratic governor. The Washington State Legislature gets more negative 32-46-22 marks in the poll.

The poll carried good news for Attorney General Rob McKenna, seeking to be the first Republican elected governor since John Spellman in 1980.

Forty-seven percent of those polled had a favorable view of McKenna, just 21 percent unfavorable, with about 30 percent not knowing him or having no opinion.

The state Democratic Party has directed a series of attacks over the last two months, trying to demonize McKenna. They’ve likened him to the union-busting Republican governor of Wisconsin, linked him to Bush guru Karl Rove, and implied that he is a stooge of the billionaire Koch brothers.

If figures from the Washington Poll are any indication, the often-crude broadsides have yet to score a hit.

The two leading Republican presidential contenders do not fare well in the Washington Poll.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gets a 36 percent favorable rating, with 42 percent viewing him unfavorably and 22 percent not knowing having no opinion.

Still, Romney’s pretty bad showing is much better than the awful marks given Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “Governor Good Hair” is seen favorably by just 21 percent of those surveyed. Fifty-one percent have a negative opinion, with 28 percent not voicing an opinion.

The Washington Poll interviewed 938 voters, by land line and cell phone, between Oct. 10 and Oct. 30.